Native American mascot bill running out of time in Oregon Legislature

View full sizeMolalla High School would have to drop its mascot, the Indian, or seek approval from a nearby Native American Tribe under Senate Bill 215.Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

SALEM -- Proponents of a bill that would allow some schools in Oregon to avoid a statewide ban on Native American mascots are facing a difficult time crunch in Salem.

Senate Bill 215 would allow districts to seek a waiver of the state's mascot ban if they reach an agreement with the nearest Native American tribe. The Senate passed the bill in April in a 24-4 vote, but it must pass the House in the next four to five weeks to reach Gov. John Kitzhaber's desk.

Native American tribal governments are split on the issue. Some argue that the bill is a reasonable way to empower local leaders. Others say the statewide ban is the best way to guard against offensive stadium stereotypes.

Things got more complicated for the mascot measure Wednesday when it was sent to the House Rules committee, a catch-all panel that can work on bills after the Legislature's other committees have shut down.

The Rules Committee is also well known around the Capitol as a graveyard for bills that have run out of time. With the legislative session winding down, controversy is not a bill's best friend.

But Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, a sponsor of the bill, said the move would allow her to work with tribal advocates and Gov. John Kitzhaber's office to develop an amendment that would ensure its passage.

"The move to Rules does not kill it, frankly," Sprenger said.

The bill is a response to a decision last year by the Oregon Board of Education to install a broad ban on Native American mascots, affecting 15 high schools across the state, including the Siletz Valley School District's Siletz Warriors.

Bud Lane, vice-chairman of the Siletz tribal council, testified that the tribe is strongly opposed to the ban.

"We are proud to be called Siletz Warriors," Lane said.

The Coquille Indian Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde also support the bill. But others Wednesday said the bill would undermine Native American rights.

"Just because it's tradition in certain parts of this state to use Indian mascots does not mean they are OK; they are wrong," said Norrine Smokey-Smith, a retired Portland teacher and member of the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada.

Smokey-Smith told lawmakers they should work to protect Native Americans who live in Oregon but aren't represented by one of the state's nine federally recognized tribal governments.

"Mascots aren't honorable; they're one-dimensional cartoon lucky charms," said Susan Hansen, a resident of the Molalla School District, where sports teams play under the moniker of the Molalla Indians.

Sprenger said the bill, as amended, doesn't override the ban. It just allows schools and tribes that agree on a mascot to keep it in place.

"This bill doesn't make the rule go away," Sprenger said. "It just says if you have a school district and a tribe that want to come to an agreement -- that's what I call relationship building -- you can ask for a waiver."

Sprenger is working with Kitzhaber's office to draft an amendment that would require those agreements to be in writing. If the amendment is adopted and the bill passes the House, the Senate would need to agree to the new language.

Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said Kitzhaber's preferred language would drift too far away from the intent of his original bill.

"I think that's the line we might have to draw to keep the support of our tribes," Kruse said, "It's kind of important we have the support of our tribes on this."

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